Grooming a Wire-Haired Dachshund

Richard Thomas
Over 15 years handling, testing, and restoring pocket, fixed-blade, and Damascus steel knives across hunting and everyday-carry disciplines.

How to Groom a Wire-Haired Dachshund

Check out our YouTube channel for tips and videos on how to hand-strip your dachshund >

Wire-haired dachshunds are full of personality with a strong character, and they have a unique, lovely coat that requires regular care. 😊

-> If you haven’t already, we recommend checking out our “wire-haired dachshund guide” on our blog!

Regular grooming for wire-haired dachshunds is essential to keep your dog looking sleek and smart!

Since they love to play, especially during outdoor outings, it is important to keep your dog clean and well-groomed.

The coat of a wire-haired dachshund
is made of two layers:

a thick, soft undercoat to keep them warm
a short, coarse topcoat (for protection)

By removing their hair through hand-stripping, you’re doing them a favor!

Yes, with the right technique and the right equipment, you can effectively remove their dead hair.

Basics of Grooming Your Wire-Haired Dachshund

Most wire-haired dog breeds (e.g., Fox Terrier or German Pointer) need regular brushing and grooming to stay healthy, and they respond very well to hand-stripping.

In fact, grooming your wire-haired dachshund involves hand-stripping, bathing, brushing, and taking care of their teeth and nails (and nothing stops you from also looking after their eyes and ears).

To do this, you must use equipment adapted to your dog and their beautiful coat:

Thinning shears and/or standard scissors

Stripping tool (trimmer)

Dog brush

Grooming glove

This way, your dog will receive the best care for their health. 😇

Also, during this grooming time with your companion, we advise you to check if their coat is hiding any parasites or foreign objects (ticks, fleas).

Bathing:

Wire-haired dachshunds should not be bathed with shampoo more than three or four times a year.

A dog’s skin produces sebum, which coats the undercoat hairs and protects them from cold and heat.

Bathing them removes most of this sebum, making the dog vulnerable to heat and cold, even if it makes the coat feel softer.

Use lukewarm water and a professional shampoo designed for your wire-haired dachshund, then rinse thoroughly.

Avoid getting water into the dog’s long, floppy ears, which are prone to infections due to their covered ear canal.

Drying:

You can first let your dog shake themselves off in the shower and then dry them.

Use a warm, soft towel to blot their coat and help remove excess water.

There’s a good chance they will roll on the floor and get the “zoomies,” running everywhere… Our dog Néo does it every time. 😜

If the noise doesn’t bother your dog too much, you can help dry them with a special dog hair dryer.

Set the thermostat to the lowest setting so they aren’t scared, and you can even turn it on a few times during the day or week just to get them used to it.

Brushing Your Wire-Haired Dachshund

To properly groom your wire-haired dachshund, you can brush them several times a week using a soft brush.

Brush in the direction of hair growth, lifting the hair as you go.

Apply light pressure so the brush reaches the dog’s skin.

This helps remove dead cells from the surface and stimulates the skin’s sebum-producing glands, which keeps the coat clean and healthy.

Be careful not to press too hard, as you risk damaging your pup’s skin, which could lead to an infection.

Follow the brushing with a thorough combing as a final touch.

Hand-Stripping Your Wire-Haired Dachshund

Wire-haired dachshund owners generally hand-strip (see our YouTube video) their dog’s coat twice a year: first in the spring, just before the hot summer season, and then in the autumn, before the new winter coat grows in.

But nothing stops you from stripping them more regularly and lightly every 2 weeks (for Néo, it’s every Sunday).

We recommend using a dog stripping tool.

You can start with the sides, then behind the ears.

Next comes the back, the thighs, and the tail.

For finishing touches on the paws, ears, and chest, dog scissors are preferable for trimming evenly.

Do not touch their face much, nor their mustache; however, it should be brushed with care.

Clipping the Wire-Haired Dachshund?

The answer is NO.

If you want your dog to stay healthy with a sparkling coat that doesn’t curl, you must hand-strip (trim) them but do not use electric clippers.

In any case, a qualified professional dog groomer will know how to guide you, and you can also ask your veterinarian for advice.

Nail Care for Your Wire-Haired Dachshund

You should use animal nail clippers.

Your best friend’s nails are another important part of their grooming, and you will need to do this if their activity level isn’t sufficient.

During play or outdoor outings, their nails may file down naturally.

Remember to check between their paws (pads) when you return home, as foreign objects like stones can get stuck there:

IMPORTANT ⚠️: before cutting their nails, we recommend asking a qualified groomer or your vet for advice, as you could hurt your dog if you cut them too short.

Finally, you can also trim and even out the hair between the pads with your scissors. 🐾

Final Paw-note

Grooming your wire-haired dachshund is a sweet and unique moment with your dog. 😇

We haven’t covered the ears, but using a cotton swab soaked in dog ear lotion (check with your vet), you can clean them, as the dachshund is a low-to-the-ground dog and easily picks up dust and dirt from the floor.

The same goes for their teeth; you can reduce tartar with a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste and/or a dental chew toy.

Tell us in the comments how often you groom your magnificent wire-haired dachshund and send us photos (contact@doxielife.co.uk), we will post them on our social media!

The DoxieLife team – 💚 Last modified on 03/25/26

Related article: Dachshund hand-stripping, at what age?